Electric meter



(No Model.)

P. H. KORST. ELECTRIC METER.

No. 432,053, Patented July l5, 1890.

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PHILIP H. KGRST, OF

RACINE, VISCON SIN.

ELECTRIC IVIETER.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,053, dated July 15, 1890.

Application iiled May 27, 1889. Serial No. 312,234. (No model.)

To all whom t 'may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP H. KORST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, county of Racine, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Electric Meter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric meters, parltic'ularly such as are used for measuring electricity furnished to houses, and has for its object to furnish convenient means therefor.

Itis illustrated in the accompanying drawing, Which contains a perspective view of the device with the wiring shown diagrammatically. y

A and A are Wires leading from the main through the cut-out box A2, provided with the handle A3.

B is a resistance inserted in the conductor A and designed to divert an exceedinglysmall portion of the current passingthrou gh the conductors A and A into the device.

B B are lamps in use.

C is a conductor leading from the conductor A at one end of the resistance B to the mercury-box C. C2 is a similar conductor leading` from the other end of the resistance to the mercury box C3. Both of these boxes are secured upon the bed C4, which bears the iixed armature C5, above which is suspended the electro-v magnet C6.

D is a shaft supported on the,V bed C* by the springs D D2, and carrying near its middle the electro-magnet or solenoid C on opposite sides thereof the collars C'r CS, made of insulating material, and farther on the insulated disks C9 and G10. On one end of the shaft, and rigid therewith, is adrum D3, about which is wrapped the cord D4, suspending the Weight D5. On this drum is the ratchet-Wheel D, adapted to engage the dog D7. This dog is pivoted on the arm D8, which rises from the bed and is connected with the spring D9, which tends to keep dog D7 in contact with the ratchet D6. On a ledge D10 on the arm D8 is secured the electro-magnet or solenoid D, for which the dog D7 serves as an armature. From the insulating-collar C8 extends in one direction the connecting-arm E and in the opposite direction the connecting-arm E', While from the collar C7 extends in one direction the arm F and in the opposite direction the connecting-arm F.

G is a brush supported on an arm from the standard D and bearing lightly against the disk C9, and G is a similar brush bearing against the disk C10. These disks CJ and Cw are both insulated from the shaft D.

- H is a registering-box supported from the standard D2 on the platform I-I and operated from the shaft D.

J is a conductor leading from the arm E to the arm'F, thence to the electro-magnet or solenoid C, and back to the disk O9, where connection is made with the brush G. K is a conductor leading from such brush to the storage-battery K and thence to the brush G. L is a conductor leading from the disk C10 to the arm F and connecting with the arm E. It will be evident that great change could be made in these various parts, and many of them could be omitted or substitutions made therefor.

M is a conductor leading from the conductor A to the electro-magnet or solenoid D, and N is a conductor leading thence to the conductor A.

The use and operation of niyinvention are as follows: Supposing the parts to be situated as indicated in the drawing, the current of electricity entering on the conductor A and leaving on the conductor A energizes the lamps B B. rlhis current which energizes the lamp also energizes the electro-magnet or solenoid D11, and hence moves the armaturedog D7 away from its ratchet DG in opposition to the spring D". The parts are now free and ready for operation. The low resistance B will divert a correspondingly small amount of current from thev conductor A onto the conductor C, whence it will pass into the box. C', up the arm E, and, since it is intercepted by the insulation-collar CS, will pass along the IOC) the arm -F/thence tothe mercury-box C3, and

thence by conductor C2 to conductorAon the oid C, and, since this magnet or solenoid so energized exercises an influence over the immovable armature C5, the entire system will be locked in the position indicated. Vhen the storage-battery has become charged, the counter electro-motive force therefrom will neutralize the current diverted from the conductor A by the resistance B, and a time will arrive when the energization of the electromagnet or solenoid C is not sufficient to fix it in the relation illustrated to its immovable armature C5, and, acting under the influence of `the Weight D5, which such solenoid has hitherto resisted, the shaft D, together with its various members, Will rotate until the opposite end of the solenoid comes into position over the armature C5. In this position it is held by the current from the storage-battery, which passes over the following course: From battery K through conductor K to brush G, disk C, conductor J through the electromagnet or solenoid C6 back to the arm F, thence to the mercury-box C3, along conductor C2 to conductor A, during which time the di verted current passes from conductor A along conductor C, mercury-box C, arm E', thence to disk C10, brush G', and conductor K to battery. V7When the battery-current and diverted current cease to energize the electro-magnet,`

the parts Will again rotate one-half of a revolution 'and the rst operation be repeated. It Will be remembered that in the description of the second operation, the parts having rotated the arms F and E are in the mercury-box, and the arms E and F terminate in the air contrary to the positions first above described, and Which are indicated in the drawing. Vhen the current is cut out of the house-as, for instance, by operating the handle A3 in cut-out box A2-the current is instantly Withdrawn from the magnet or solenoid D11, and the spring D9, acting upon the armature-dog D7, causes it to engage the ratchet D(i and lockthe parts in the position in Which'they then are. The register II is of any desired kind, and is so adjusted with reference to the other parts of the device as that it will indicate the number of revolutions so made by the shaft D, and hence the numberl of ampere hours furnished to the consumer. Vhen the Weight has completed its excursion,

vthe device may be reset by Winding up the drum or pulley D3 until the Weight is brought to its maximum height. The various connecting devices Would preferably be insulated conductors and pass Within the various parts of the machine. By the use of the resistance B an exceedingly small portion of the current employed is diverted to operate the meter, and the parts are so arranged that the measurement of the small diverted current, bearing, as it does, aconstant relation to the current consumed, will measure or meter the principal current so consumed. It will readily be seen that the current to operate the meter may be diverted in other Ways; also, that the application of the charging and discharging of the storage-battery to measuring such current can be utilized in other Ways. As indicated on the drawing, the conductor N might lead to conductor A at the point Where the conductor C leads therefrom, in which case the electro-magnet D will be in shunt around the resistance B.

Having thus fully described my invention, l

through it, and a current-reverser, which reverses the direction of the current through such translating device responsive to its varying resistance.

2. In an electric meter, the combination of a translating device in the circuit of the current to be measured, said translating device jvarying in resistance as the current passes through it, and a current-reverser, which reverses the direction of the current through such translating device responsive to its varying resistance, said current-reverser containing an electro-magnet traversed by the current to be measured.

3. In an electric meter, the combination of a translating device in the circuit of the current to be measured, said translating device varying in resistance as the current passes through it, and a current-reverser, Which reverses the direction of the current through such translating device responsive to its varying resistance, said translating device consisting of a storage-battery.

4. In an electric meter, the combination of a translating device in the circuit of the current to be measured, said translating device varying in resistance as the current passes through it, and a current-reverser, which reverses the direction of the current through such translating device responsive to its varying resistance, said translating device consisting of a storage-battery and said currentreverser containing an electro-magnet traversed by the current to be measured.

5. .In an electric meter, the combination of a translating device in the circuit of the current to be measured, said translating device varying in resistance as the current passes through it, and a current-reverser, which reverses the direction of the current through such translating device responsive to its varyin g resistance, and a registering device operated by such current-reverser.

6. An electric meter having in combination a current-reverser and a translating device, which varies in resistance as the current IOO IIO

IZO

rent to be measured with a current-reverser normally constantly traversed by the current to be measured and a Varying resistance in the circuit of the current to be measured, said r 5 current-reverser responsive to the Variations in such resistance.

Signed this 16th day of May, 1889.

PHILIP H. KORST.

Witnesses:

L. B. BAKER, H. J. ROGERS. 

